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Monday, 4 July 2016

turmeric tea and smokin' hot smoke bush

Good morning. Sometimes when I post comments on other people's blogs I see that the time stamp is insanely wrong. I really do not stay up until 3:00 in the morning reading blogs, or writing them. Obviously, long ago when I started my blog I entered the wrong time zone, or didn't even look at the time zone. In reality, it is currently 10:43 a.m. I am on my summer holidays and happy as a clam about it. The sun is gloriously hot and it looks, smells, and sounds like summer. (Canadians really appreciate summer!)

On a side note, have you ever noticed that as soon as you get the fly swatter, the annoying insect that you are determined to kill disappears? There has been a big wasp buzzing around me and now that I have gotten up, gone in the house, found the fly swatter, it is nowhere to be found.

Next side note, I got the wasp.

I am on my porch, but I am not having "coffee on my porch". I already had my coffee hours ago. Right now I am having turmeric tea. Apparently turmeric is good for everything from pain to preventing alzheimers. Why am I drinking it? Well, nobody wants to hear a list of physical complaints from anyone, but long story short, I have been fighting lower back pain / hip pain at night for MONTHS and have pursued everything from chiro., to physio, to massage therapy, to yoga and no change yet. In fact, it's getting worse. I am due to see a rheumatologist but not until September. I read about turmeric and its anti-inflammatory properties. I am not sure why I think a teaspoon of yellow powder will work where ibuprofen has not, but at this point, I am willing to try anything.

You might think, "turmeric tea... ew gross", but actually it is quite lovely. I boiled up some cinnamon, a little ginger, turmeric, and tiny dash of black pepper with water. Then for an added measure of that-which-is-the-latest-greatest-cure-all, added a spoonful of coconut oil. I strained the whole lot, stirred in a little honey and milk, and Bob's your uncle. It mostly tastes like cinnamon, which I love, so I enjoy it. And as with every new thing I try, I am expecting results by tomorrow!!

No more belly aching now. Instead, I am going to show you my smokin' hot smoke bush. This is a shrub that my mother gave to me years and years ago. It was small and straggly. She purchased it when a small greenhouse was going out of business close to where she lived. I planted it in the corner of the property and since then it has grown like a weed. I have chopped it back a number of times and it grew fuller and more amazing. Right now it is in its glory.

My mother died a few years back and her last several years were trying for her and for all of us. Gardening, and preserving are two areas that I feel a connection to her. There are other connections that I have fought and resisted as I have journeyed through adulthood. This smoke bush is a good connection, so I am glad that it lives on so well.

18 comments:

So sorry to hear that your back is bothering you! Your turmeric tea sounds rather lovely. I hope it helps!The smoke bush is an amazing specimen. How wonderful you have such a special reminder of your mother.

Thanks for the "review" about the tea. Someone was just telling me about the value of turmeric on Saturday, not just for me, but for the dogs too. It's something I've never heard about -- I'll have to read up on it! I'm glad it's working for you!

The bush is really beautiful as is the memory! I regret not taking plants from my Mom's yard when we sold her house. The new owners "bulldozed" everything, and all the beautiful plants, bushes, etc., were lost. But I still have my memories of them.!

First of all.....how was the pool party?Love your Smokebush...I have 6 or so, that have grown all by themselves!One is big enough to go to the cottage...in the Fall....Enjoy your week...Cheers!Linda :o)

What a lovely living memorial to your mother. No wonder it's flourishing!

So sorry to hear about the darn pains that are bothering you. Not being able to sleep at night is the pits! I firmly believe some of the "natural" remedies do just as much good as the pharmaceuticals offered for the same ailments. (We take turmeric regularly in capsule form.)

I suppose you could say we take turmeric more as a preventative than anything. We're both in our 70s (yikes, how did that happen?), are very healthy and are able to work hard physically . . . and want to stay that way! Turmeric is touted as being an anti-inflammatory which we believe is good for our hard-working joints. Hubby injured a knee several years ago in a motorcycle accident so he's always looking for something natural to help the occasional aching in that area. Turmeric supposedly helps keep our brains in good shape and, of course, with the increase in dementia and Alzheimer's that's a concern for everyone. It has the characteristic of ridding the body of free radicals and increasing the body's ability to use antioxidants. The list goes on and on and although I can't say without a doubt turmeric is keeping us healthy, it doesn't seem a moderate dose is hurting us!!

Thanks for all the info! I did a little reading up on it as well. I am taking it for anti-inflammatory properties, but alzheimers unfortunately runs in my family, so as much preventative measure as possible! I really admire how hard you can work. I am already feeling that it is harder to lift, move, and work the way I used to. Time to take the bull by the horns!! -Jenn

We're firm believers that muscles will weaken and atrophy is not used and going to the gym isn't for us so we try to stay as active in our daily life as possible. I know this can be extremely hard when in pain though . . . and pursuing the cause of the pain (and getting rid of it!) is the way to go. We all feel nasty aches and pains when using muscles that we've neglected, but it sounds like your persistent lower back/hip pain is something else. Keep searching (trying to go the "natural" way) and I'll say a little prayer you get rid of it SOON!

Two things, Jenn. First I can identify with your back pain. Mine was/is not as resistant to treatment as yours...but I do know what it's like to awaken on a glorious summer day wanting to hop on your bike, or lounge on your porch and feel pain while doing either. Second...I also identify with resisting certain connections with your mum... even while you cherish others. Oh...I can identify with that! We should sit down over a cup of tea and discuss that one!

About Me

I started blogging because I started reading people's blogs and really enjoyed them. I have always been a writer. I've kept a journal since I was a teenager (which was quite some time ago!), I wrote stories as a child, and I think things through by writing them down and getting them out of my brain. At the moment I blog about my life without getting too personal. I get a little thrill when someone leaves a comment, so I try to comment on other people's blogs as well. So... go ahead... make my day.

About Me

I am a wife and mother of a twenty-one year-old and a seventeen-year-old living in rural Ontario, Canada. Join me in my journey through gardening, motherhood, living in a century-plus home, surviving husband projects (give me strength), and working full time. I love reading, nature, laughing, small furry animals, and a good cup of coffee on the porch (or perhaps a glass of red wine depending on the day!).